Where in the World: Albania

This mini unit on ALBANIA uses the cross curricular approach to education. There are several activities from different academic subjects for you to choose from. One of the most important things is to have fun!


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Where in the World: Albania

Below are some activities to help you study ALBANIA. You may choose to do all, some, or none of the activities. You can also alter the activities to better suit your individual child's needs. Some of these activities overlap each other, choose the one you think that you and the children will enjoy most. The main point of this unit is to make learning about ALBNIA and enjoyable for all who are participating.

The flag of Albania:



About the flag of Albania: http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/al.htmll

Create a Country "Infodesk":

Before you begin this unit you may want to set up a research area. Place a desk or table in front of a bulletin board area. This will be where you can place relevant books, magazines, photographs, posters, newspaper articles, maps, scrapbooks, games, puzzles, computer software, task cards, travel brochures, etc. that you collect.

Print a blank map of the country, or draw one on tag board, that you can place on the bulletin board. As you study the political and physical features of the country, have the children fill in the name of the capital, large cities, and major geographical features. Color the map using different shades for varying elevations. You may also want to include other political map features such as lines differentiating various regions, states, etc.

Place a chart next to the map called "Country Facts." List any information on here that you would like to be able to find at a quick glance. Have the children fill this chart up as the unit progresses.

Build a Mini Museum

Build a mini museum to exhibit any artifacts or memorabilia about the country you are working on. Label the items with a date and a brief explanation of their history. Also display any maps and projects made by the children.

Create a Unit Portfolio

During this unit, you can have the child(ren) prepare a portfolio to keep their notes and completed projects in. Include an outline map of the state or a copy of the state flag to go on the cover of the portfolio. Have them include the date they begin and complete the unit.

Facts-At-A-Glance

Use any or all of the following sub-topics to gather information on the country. This can even be used as your "Country Facts" sheet mentioned in "Infodesk" section above.

1. Country Name:
2. Population:
3. Total Area:
4. Location by Longitude/Latitude or by Hemispher or by continent:
5. Climate:
6. Topography:
7. Capital City:
8. Major Industry:
9. Manufactured Goods:
10. Agricultural Crops:
11. Livestock:
12. Fishing:
13. Mining:
14. National Anthem:
15. Tourist Attractions:
16. Historical Facts:
17. Largest Cities
§ By area
§ By population
18. National Preserves:
19. National Seashores:
20. National Monuments:
21. National Wonders
§ Waterfalls
§ Deserts
§ Rivers
§ Volcanoes
22. Average January Temperature:
23. Average July Temperature:
24. Endangered Species:
25. National Parks:
26. National Historical Parks:
27. National Memorials:
28. National Historical Sites:
29. Famous People:
20. Amazing Facts:
21 Type of Government:
22. Government Leader:
23. Annual Events:
24. Name and address of country's tourist information center:
25. Unusual Wildlife:
26. Language spoken:
27. National Sport:

When you have completed gathering the above information, you could do use the facts to:
§ Create a "Country A to Z Fact Book" with a person, place, or fact for each letter of the alphabet.
§ Create a "Country Book of Facts" by cutting paper into the shape of the state and writing one interesting fact along with an illustration on each page. Bind the pages together in a cover of the same shape as the pages.
§ Use the facts to help with other activities in this unit.

Brainstorming

List what you know before you begin the unit and what you would like to learn during the unit and then when the unit is over what you learned throughout the unit.

Information Scavenger Hunt:

As an ongoing part of this unit, have a "country scavenger hunt" to answer questions about the country. Country archives, history books, museums, artifacts, photographs, old newspapers and magazines, and experts on various topics of interest will help gather an overall picture of the country.

Set up categories (i.e., in the beginning, early immigrants, geography, famous people, etc.) and provide containers (i.e., folders, boxes, etc.) to keep the material and information you gather in to keep them organized.

Country Reports:

Information you gather on your "scavenger hunt" can be used to prepare reports on the country. The complexity and method of presentation of the reports will depend on the level of your child(ren).

Historical Timeline:

As you work on this unit, gather information, you may wish to create a country timeline so that you can see important events in the states' history presented in a chronological format.

Timeline Example #1
Timeline Example #2


Additional Areas of Research:

1. Who were the first inhabitants of the country?
2. Who were the first pioneers into the country?
3. What are the major historical eras of the country?
4. You may wish to research one or more famous people from the country.


Country Maps:

Land Form Maps

Making country maps of various kinds is an excellent way to learn about land forms, locations, and state resources. A "land form" map shows the shape and height of the land. It shows mountains, plateaus, hills, plains, rivers, etc.

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/al.html


Create your own landform map of the country's geographical features.

1. Determine the country's features by looking up a state map in an atlas, an encyclopedia, or a geography book.
2. Make a landform key at the bottom of your blank map form. Include symbols for each of the different landform types in your country.
3. Color in the areas in your country to match the key. Your key should be color-coded. Make the highest land form the darkest color and the lowest land form the lightest color. You can use colored pencils, crayons, markers, etc.
4. Label the large rivers and mountain ranges with their names.

You could also make a relief map of the country. A relief map is a 3D version of a landform map. You could use paper mache or salt dough to make your own relief map.

1. On a map, draw a star to mark the location of the capital city of Albania. Write its name by the star.

2. Label the sea and three countries that border Albania.

3. List the country's major rivers that empty into the sea. Draw an asterick (*) by the only one used for shipping.

4. Draw in the North Albanian Alps on your map using upside down v's as the symbol for mountain (^^^).

Country Resource Map:

Resources are things that people use every day. Resources are found and developed from the land itself, or made into other things we use.

1. What resource or manufactured good is your country best known for?
2. How does this resource or product affect the country's economy?
3. How does the country's resources/products affect how people live?
4. What products from neighboring countries are used by the country?

Make a product map:

1. Look in an atlas, encyclopedia, or geography book to find a map showing the location of products raised or produced in the country.
2. Create a product map showing where these products are grown or manufactured in the country. Use a symbol key to represent the products on your map.
3. Show important cities situated near these resources on your map.

Make a mineral map:

1. Look in an atlas, encyclopedia, or geography book to find a map showing the location of minerals in the country.
2. Create a minerals map showing what minerals are mined in the country, if any. Minerals are natural substances obtained by mining such as coal, ore, salt, or stone. Use a symbol key to represent the minerals.
3. Show important cities situated near these resources on your map.

National Anthem:

Listen to the tune and words of the country's anthem. How long has this anthem been in use? Who wrote it and under what circumstances?

Albania's National Anthem: http://www.copsrus.com/albania.html


Wildlife of the Country:

Learn about this country's wildlife and then find out the following information:

1. name of animal
2. habitat
3. colors and markings of this animal
4. food of choice for this animal
5. enemies this animal may have
6. protective behaviors
7. size
8. type of nest, burrow, etc.
9. size of its young, as well as incubation or gestation time
10. migration habits
11. type of teeth
12. feet type
13. adaptations to environment
14. songs, calls, or other sounds
15. other interesting behaviors
16. endangered or not

Draw a picture of each animal and write a paragraph about what you have learned. Add this to your unit portfolio.

Weather

Every country is affected by conditions of climate and geography. Countries experience floods, earthquakes, sinkholes, erosion, hurricanes, tornadoes, hailstorms, firestorms, blizzards, drought, mudslides, volcanic activity, and electrical storms.

Make a list different weather types that affect the country you are researching. Look in newspapers, travel brochures and books, tourism sites, etc. to find this information out.

1. Make a table of the country's average monthly rainfall, then record the information on a bar graph.
2. Make a table of the country's average monthly temperature, then record the information on a line graph.
3. List various severe weather found in this country and any country-wide plans for dealing with it. For instance, Florida has hurricane evacuation routes in flood prone areas.

Craft Ideas:

1. Make your own Albanian flag or penant.

2. Try and create a picture dictionary of Albanian words. Use http://www.cusd.claremont.edu/%7Elkroll/albania/Shqip.html? as a guide.

3. Research some of the historical crafts of Albania and try some simple replications.

Recipes:

http://www.balkanweb.com/albania/curiosities.htm
http://www.frosina.org/recipes/recipes.shtml
http://www.lacabe.com/marga/food/int/albania/

Map:

http://geography.about.com/library/blank/blxindex.htm
http://www.libraryspot.com/maps/outline.htm

History Links:

http://www.geocities.com/motorcity/track/4165/historia.html
http://www.mapzones.com/world/europe/albania/historyindex.php
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/albania/history.htm
http://www.workmall.com/wfb2001/albania/albania_history_index.html


General Questions:

What is the name of the ancient tribe that rule Albania in 300 B.C.?

List six of the major civilizations that influenced Albania during the eyars from 300 BC to AD 1300.

Who is Albania's national hero?

What country invaded Albania in 1939?

Who is Enver Hoxha?

Albania has many different cultural influences. List at least three ways that this could benefit a country.

What is the basic unit of money called in Albania?

Other Info:

If you have any information or links that you think would enhance this unit, please feel free to contact me through the feedback button in the left hand column.

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